There hasn’t been a goal the St. John’s Prep boys hockey team hasn’t accomplished.
The Eagles won the Pete Frates Winter Classic for the first time since 2015 while still working out the kinks. A 12-game win streak then powered their first Catholic Conference title since 2013. Now, top-seeded St. John’s Prep (21-3) is as locked in as ever heading into the Div. 1 state final Sunday at 5:30 p.m. – eyeing its second state championship in three years.
At their best, the Eagles overwhelm opposing teams with physicality, speed and high IQ plays. Brady Plaza and Jack Doherty lead a stingy defense. Junior goalie AJ Farese makes the saves he needs to. Charged play from a large crop of upperclassmen have put opponents in early holes lately, and seniors Jake Vana, Christian Rosa, Johnny Tighe, Cam Umlah, Caleb White, Mason Luciano and Brendan Powers find ways to score in critical moments.
In all, they look like they’re in a class of their own. But nobody is measuring their ring size before playing No. 11 Winchester (16-9).
A Div. 1 tournament filled with wild upsets provides an opportunity for the Red and Black to pull off the biggest of them all. A loaded Middlesex League Liberty race prepared Winchester for its deep run, thrice scoring golden goals in overtime or double overtime to reach its first state final since 2019.
Winchester doesn’t easily rattle in the face of adversity, twice winning in this tournament after losing third-period leads. Senior forwards Danny Collins and David Strong are key scorers to watch, while sophomore forward Luke Sardone has been an impressive playmaker. Junior Aiden Emerick has played stellar in goal, and senior defenseman Jack Duncan has delivered big plays in crunch time.
The crowd should be electric for another battle between public and private schools. The last public school to win it for a title was Arlington in the 2017 Super 8, though Winchester is already 2-for-2 this postseason.
A different type of rivalry will take the stage after, with MVC/DCL II foes No. 1 Tewksbury (21-3) and No. 11 Boston Latin (16-8) matching up in the Div. 2 state final.
Tewksbury has dominated in search of its second state title in three years. Few teams are as potent, bolstered by three seniors with 100 career points (Matthew Cooke, Jeremy Insogna and Tyler Barnes). That doesn’t include sophomore Tyler Bourgea, who had four points in the state semifinal win.
Cooper Robillard and Anthony DiFranco anchor a defense that’s limited teams, including 5-2 and 5-1 wins over the Wolfpack. But any coach will say it’s difficult to beat a team three times in one year, especially one that makes it to the state final.
Boston Latin is playing with a lot of emotion and grit to simply survive and advance. Senior forwards Aidan Fitzpatrick and Matt Carrara have paired with fellow senior captain Bobby Banks in guiding the Wolfpack to nine wins in their last 10 games.
In Div. 3, top-seeded Nauset (22-1-1) and No. 6 Marblehead (16-9-1) each felt entering the tournament they were the team to beat. It’s a battle of swagger for the state title.
Junior Logan Poulin has been a machine for Nauset, leading a 19-game win streak. An 18-2 goal differential in the tournament has backed its claim as the top team. Shawsheen was rolling on a long win streak too until it faced Marblehead, though, and the Headers have completely flipped an 0-6 start into a 16-3-1 run ever since. They’ve grown a respect for what it takes to win, and the impressive play of senior defenseman Hogan Sedky and goalie Leo Burdge could slow down Nauset.
Premier goaltending will be on the radar in the Div. 4 state final, as none have been better than senior Andrew Goldstein to lead No. 5 Dover-Sherborn/Weston (20-4) to its first state final. It’ll have its hands full by matching up with junior goalie Thomas Perkins and No. 6 Hanover (15-9), which makes its sixth state final appearance since 2014. That includes a Div. 3 state title in 2022.
Only senior captain Billy Radzik was on the Hawks’ roster for that state championship, but players of the past have shown the current group the way of what it takes to win. Head coach Jonathan Abban says that culture and the leadership of his captains has been instrumental to get them this far, as well as the play of Perkins and the defense.
Hanover’s state semifinal win over Stoneham was the first time this tournament it allowed more than one goal. Goldstein still has yet to for D-S/Weston despite playing dangerous Winthrop and Sandwich teams.
Predictions
Div. 1 winner: St. John’s Prep
The Eagles are a confident bunch and look well in rhythm to keep up its most dominant form from all year. Their speed and athleticism will make it tough for Winchester to keep up on the scoreboard. But if the Red and Black can force an overtime, look out.
Div. 2 winner: Tewksbury
Tewksbury was the title pick almost all year until Canton got the nod at the very end. Going back to the original belief in a team that led Div. 2 with well over five goals per game, the Redmen are looking for a three-game sweep over Boston Latin.
Div. 3 winner: Nauset
The Warriors still seem to have the taste of last year’s heart-breaking upset in their mouth. Extra efforts and focus win these games, though, and there should be no shortage of that from either team.
Div. 4 winner: Dover-Sherborn/Weston
Defense and goaltending has been stellar for both teams all tournament, but the edge goes to Goldstein for D-S/Weston’s first state title.
